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Mohsin Hamid The Reluctant Fundamentalist October 2014 Fiodor Nicola Misuri 1

Mohsin Hamid The Reluctant Fundamentalist October 2014Fiodor Nicola Misuri1

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Page 1: Mohsin Hamid The Reluctant Fundamentalist October 2014Fiodor Nicola Misuri1

Mohsin Hamid

TheReluctantFundamentalist

October 2014 Fiodor Nicola Misuri 1

Page 2: Mohsin Hamid The Reluctant Fundamentalist October 2014Fiodor Nicola Misuri1

Index

• General information– writer– publishing– genre– sub genre– narrator and point of view– places and time

• Characters– analysis of the novel– cultural references– sources

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General Information• Writer: Mohsin Hamid (born

1971) is a Pakistani writer• Publishing year: 2007. Hamish

Hamilton (United Kingdom); Harcourt (United States); Oxford University Press (Pakistan)

• Genre: fiction• Sub genre: cultural, social,

politic, economic• Narrator and point of view: The

protagonist’s point of view• Places and time: in Lahore, in

the Old district of Anarkali

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first edition (UK)

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Characters

• The main characters– The protagonist:

Changez, a Pakistani student who studied and worked in America

– The interlocutor: an American tourist

• secondary characters• Erica: an American

girl.

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Analysis of the novel

The novel is organized into twelve chapters•The comparison between two cultures (American and Pakistani) is the main aspect of the novel•The writer uses some narrative and linguistic elements to bring cultural differences to surface

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Mohsin Hamid

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• Use of language and narration are linked to

contemporaneity: events like the attacks to the Twin Tower in 2001) come together to underline the encounter/clash between cultures

• The novelist puts the different attitudes and behaviours of each character into evidence

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Chapter one

Main function(s):– introduction

• the protagonist• the interlocutor• the setting• the situation

Structural element(s):– some info about Pakistani

culture– American study experience– social and economic

situation of two countries

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Chapter two

Main function(s):– Erica’s characterization– relationship with Erica

Structural element(s):– comparison between

families, human relationships and human nature

– discussion about love and physical attraction

– different attitudes and behaviours

– discussion about society

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Chapter Three

• Main function(s):– underlining aspects of two

different cultures and their common fields

• Structural element(s):– foreign people's attitudes and

behaviours– some info about life in Lahore– comparison between two

cities (Lahore and Manhattan)– comparison between

universities in Pakistan and in the USA

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Chapter four• Main function(s):

– Influence of stereotypes and prejudices in people’s life

• Structural element(s):– comparison between

developments in Lahore and in NYC

– cosmopolitan elements of NYC

– Pakistan’s situation in a conversation between Erica’s father and Changez

– Erica’s confession about the traumatic effect of Chris’ death

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Chapter five

Main function(s):– the attitudes in other country– pettiness/narrow mindedness

Structural element(s):– the USA, seen from

Philippines– comparison between Lahore

and Manila– cultural shock and adjustment

to new cultures– Attack to the Twin Towers

(turning point)– first American fears

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Chapter six

Main function(s):– the traumas of life

Structural element(s):– use of sense of smell to

identify some aspects of a culture

– discussion about the idea of death

– return to a wounded City– meeting with Erica after the

attacks– discussion about social classes– the emotions and the

relationship with Erica

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Chapter seven

Main function(s):– anger in front of a threatened

country – Changez ‘s change and his

life

Structural element(s):– Some info about American

attitudes with foreign people– discussion about economic

and financial problems– some info about Pakistani

food– the emotions and the

relationship with Erica

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Aerial view of theWorld Trade Centersite, as it appeared in September 2001.

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Chapter eight

Main function(s):– parallelism between NYC’s

and Erica’s trauma

Structural element(s):– traumatic dialogue with

Erica’s mother– Erica breaks relationship– food and smell as cultural

signs – «nostalgia that was

becoming to prevalent in my world» (?)

– civil discrimination– work tolerance

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Chapter nine

Main function(s):– reflection about life

Structural element(s):– ways of eating– Changez ‘s return to Lahore

and his fells foreigner– new cultural shock– situation in Pakistan– symbols of national identity– last meeting with Erica in a

clinic– new situation at work

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Chapter ten

Main function(s):– protagonist’s inner upheaval– reflection about services to

the USA, «the enemy»

Structural element(s):– protagonist’s work

experience in Chile– meeting with Juan-Bautista– the visit of Pablo Neruda’s

house– thoughts about Erica

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La Sebastiana, Valparaíso, ChilePablo Neruda’s house

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Chapter eleven

• Main function(s):– change of perspective about

USA

Structural element(s):– return to New York City– Work failure and layoff– Erica’s disappearance– remainder and nostalgia of

past and defining moments with Erica

– definitive return to Lahore

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Chapter twelve

Main function(s):– reflection about fear in front

of difference

Structural element(s):– Changez is a professor in a

Lahore campus– he is involved in protests

against the attitude of American government

– his anguished life in Lahore– the conclusion of dialogue

with the American

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Lahore, Pakistan

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Cultural references

The novel The Reluctant Fundamentalist influenced the homonymous film adaptation by director Mira Nair•Official website

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Sources

• The Reluctant Fundamentalist by Mohsin Hamid

• images from the movie The Reluctant Fundamentalist by director Mira Nair

• School lessons• Study materials

<http://www.marilenabeltramini.it/schoolwork1415/admin/index.php?act=task&ion=db>

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Thank you for your attention